Initial holder



July 16, 1940. o. F. PLAcco 2,207,704

INITIAL HOLDER Filed Jan. 29, 1958 n' llllll/ IINVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Patented July 16, 1940 PATENT OFFlCE 2,207,704 INIITIAL HOLDEROscar F. Placco, Cranston, R. 1., assignor to Core" Gram, Inc., NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New York :Application January 29, 1938,Serial No. 187,601

3 Claims.

'My invention'relates to a new and improved initial holder.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved initialholder which can be used in connection with, or as part of, a buckleorbrooch or other ornamental article.

While the invention relates particularly to a device in which one ormore initials are held within a suitable frame, it is to beunderstoodthat ornamental articles other than initials can be utilized withoutdeparting from the invention.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a device which can bemanufactured simply and at low cost and which can be readily assembledand taken apart.

Other objects of my invention will be set forth in the followingdescription and drawing which illustrates preferred embodiments thereof,it being understood that the above statement of the objects of myinvention is intended generally to explain the same without limiting itin any manner.

Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of the invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively sectional views on the lines 22, 3-3and 44 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing a corner of theholding frame.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-5 comprises a front frame I whichmay be of any suitable design. The front face of said frame I can beornamented in any desired manner. Said frame I is provided with anopening having side edge-walls 2 and. top and bottom edge-walls 3. Therear wall of the frame I is formed so as to provide spaced teeth ofrectangular or other shape, having intermediate recesses. Said frame Ican be made from a single piece of metal or other suitable material andthe teeth 4 and the intermediate recesses can be formed by suitablyshaping said piece of metal. Rigid knobs 5 project rearwardly from therear face of the frame I. Four of these knobs are preferably provided,one of said knobs being located at each corner of the opening in theframe I.

The initials 6 may be of the general shape shown in Fig. 11. Saidinitials are provided with lugs 6a. Said lugs 6a may be thinner than theinitials 6. The rear surfaces of said lugs 6a may be flush with the rearsurfaces of the initials 6.

Each initial 6 may be provided with one or more longitudinal lugsBa ateach end thereof. Said lugs 60 fit into the recesses between thelongitudinal teeth 4, so that the front faces of the initials are flushwith the front face of the frame I, when the initials are assembled withthe frame.

Figs. 2 and 3, show that the front surface of the frame I and'the frontsurfaces of said initials 6 are decorated with jewels J.

Fig. 1 shows the top and bottom faces of the teeth 4 flush with the topand bottom edges 3. 5 This may be varied without departing from theinvention and the teeth 4 may .be shorter than as illustrated in Fig. 1,so that the top and bottom edges of the teeth 4 are spaced from the topand bottom edges 3.

When the initials are assembled with the frame, the assemblage is loose,so that the initials can fall out of the frame. The lugs 6a and theteeth 4 merely serve to position the initials and to limit the lateralmovements of the initials relative to the frame.

The initials are held in position by means of a holding frame I which ismade of metal or the like. This frame is generally of rigidconstruction, although it may be somewhat bendable or sprmgy.

As shown in Fig. 5, the inner walls of said frame are cut away at thecorners so as to provide inner corner slots 8, openings 9, andlongitudinal and lateral slots I0 and I I, which have respectiveenlargements, I00. and Ila- As shown in Fig. 3, the members .5 may be ofrivet-like construction. In Fig. 1 a part of the frame I is omitted soas to illustrate the parts more clearly. Fig. 1 shows how the heads ofthe members 5 can be caused to register with the openings 9, and saidframe I can then be pushed towards the rear of the frame I until thereduced necks, of said members 5 are located within said openings 9.

Hence, although the frame I can be of substantial stiffness so that itdoes not bend under ordinary handling, a snap-fastener connection isprovided whereby the initials 6 are firmly held in position, withtheir'front faces substantially flush with the front face of the frameI.

The frame I can be readily removed, since the springy connection at itscorners is releasable.

The holding frame is sufficiently rigid so that it can be applied orremoved repeatedly, without substantially distorting the same.

I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is clearthat numerous changes and omissions can be made without departingfromits spirit.

The holding frame is preferably more resilient and yieldable than theholding means which hold said holding frame in position. In Fig. 1, saidholding means are the members 5.

Whenever I refer to initials in the description 55 of claims, I includeidentifying or ornamental members of any kind.

I claim:

1. A first frame having an opening in which initials are located, saidfirst frame having first hOlding means located at its rear face, aholding frame shaped to overlie the rear walls of said initials and tohold said initials in position in the first frame, said holding framebeing bodily and Wholly removable from the first frame by movement in adirection substantially perpendicular to said first frame, said holdingframe having additional holding means, said first holding means and saidadditional holding means being shaped to interlock resiliently andreleasably when the holding frame is moved towards the perpendicular tothe forated and slotted resilient portions which resiliently engage saidshanks inwardly of said heads, said shanks being located in theperforations of said resilient portions, said heads extending rearwardlyof said holding frame.

3. A first frame having an opening in which.

initials are located, holding members connected to said first frame andprojecting rearwardly from the rear face of said frame, said holdingmembers having shanks which terminate in enlarged heads, a holding frameshaped to overlie the rear walls of said initials and to hold them inposition, said holding frame having perforations at its corners, saidholding frame having its walls at each corner provided with slots whichform continuations of said perforations, said slots being locatedbetween the outer and inner edges of said walls,

said walls of the holding frame having additional slots at their cornerswhich also form continuations of said perforations and which interruptthe inner edges of said walls, the corners ofjsaid frames beingresilient, said perforations being shapjed to fit substantially aroundsaid shanks, so that said holding frame can be sprung into holdingposition by forcing said heads through said perforations.

OSCAR F. PLACCO'.

